Worried about my Hen's Health

[babsbag]

If your hen isn't feeling well I wouldn't worm her unless you know that she has worms, it can be very hard on them.

I would add some poultry vitamins to her water and give her some extra treats with some good protein. Mine like cooked eggs and cooked oatmeal with yogurt.

I have one hen with a pale comb as well. She is raising a brood, her chicks are about 6 weeks old. I have looked her over for bugs and don't see anything. I am afraid that my hen has Marek's disease. I have had 2 other chickens in my flock that I have lost from MD and another that has a gray eye. Not only is her comb pale, but I noticed that they last few days she is just a little more quiet and not quite as hard to catch. Not a good sign.

I hope your hen is ok, and that it is something as simple as lice.

 

[Gretchen2]

Thank you all Very much. My hen, Waffles, did pass away shortly after that post. I did discover a lot of small bugs all over the coop and the hens and dusted them. She actually passed right after the dusting, i imagine she couldn't handle that stress even though i tried to be gentle.

The other two are doing fine, the coop shows no signs of re-infestation, which is great. I appreciate the responses. We miss Waffles very much.


Thanks again
g2

 

[molly d]

I'm sorry for your loss!

 

[HandyHen]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss of Waffles, too. It's so hard to lose them when it's kind of complicated to figure out what is exactly wrong.

I have one 16-wk old Buff that I suspect has Marek's as well. She has had one droopy wing and walks very little. This has been going on for a week. She is isolated from the rest of my flock, but I'm not sure if it could be something else.

Secondly, I have an Ameraucana - 3 month old - who is hunched with ruffled head feathers. She has little energy and I have to force her to drink - she does eat. I have both of these little girls isolated.

They poo seems to be normal. I did post this request a few days ago looking for help with no responses. So, since there seems to be some similar symptoms, I thought maybe someone could help me out.

By the way, I did dust everyone with Lice powder (Permethrin) a week ago and sprayed the coops down well with Sevin spray. They all get an organic mix feed, except for the little ones are still on Chickstarter - medicated. I would really appreciate some help.

 

[dawg53]

HandyHen try giving your chickens wazine17. It's a mild wormer that gets rid of roundworms. Dosage is one ounce per one gallon of water. Give it to them as the only source of water first thing in the morning for 24 hours. Then discard the water after 24 hours and provide them freshwater. Throw eggs away in the garbage for 2 weeks. If they have worms, you'll see an improvement within about 2-3 hours. Two days after their worming, give your chickens plain yogurt, canned beef catfood, scrambled egg (not their own eggs after worming) and mix it in some feed to make a mash and give it to them. The yogurt is a probiotic, catfood and eggs provide protein and other minerals to rebuild their immune system. You can add poultry nutri drench in their water, it contains minerals and vitamins for your chickens. I'd only use it for no more than 3 days though,it can cause diarrhea. Wazine17 and nutri drench can be bought a afeed store or TSC.

 

[babsbag]

Quote:
Sorry to disagree, but I absolutley would not worm a sick chicken unless you know it has worms. Ask your vet if they can do a fecal float for you. Worming them is giving them poison, and while I am not an organic chicken farmer, poison when they are sick is just too hard on them. I am not anti-chemical wormers, it is just the timing that bothers me.

I do agree with the yogurt, the nutridrench, etc. Just not the worming part. IMO

 

[dawg53]

One of the many reasons why a chicken would be sick IS because it could be worms. Worms are not going to be seen in their poop unless it's a possible infestation. HandyHen has described lethargic chickens, not eating much,not drinking much and so on.... something as simple as worms will do this as you well know, I dont think it's marek's. You're right, a fecal float test will tell for sure whether they have worms or not and I hope HandyHen can get it done.

 

[Chickaholic]

Quote:
I am so sorry for your loss!!!

I can't imagine loosing one of my birds

My thoughts and prayers are with you!!